A judge or a lover?

Exodus 3; Job 20; Luke 6; 1 Corinthians 7

God reminds me again of the contrast between His way and the way of sinful human thinking. Obviously, it shows up in the how He treats those who are His children and what the Bible describes as the fate of the wicked. One description is in a speech by a ‘friend’ of Job:

Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. (Job 20:4–11)

He goes on for the rest of the chapter in a tirade about the wrath of God, only he errs in that he is applying this to Job. Does he not realize that God has said of him, “There is none like (Job) on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

From Abraham to the NT believers, God says that those who have faith are considered righteous and their sin is not counted against them. This is the wonderful good news of the Gospel and it applied also to Job. However, his ‘friends’ were not treating him like a child of God but judging him as if he was a wicked and evil man.

Luke 6 provides the contrast. Jesus condemned the Pharisees who practiced judgment against all who do not keep the Law. They ignored the gospel that ‘righteousness comes by faith’ and treated everyone with their ‘keep the rules or you are condemned’ attitude. Like Job’s friends, they applied this to the righteous — even to the greatest and most righteous One of all, their Messiah Jesus Christ.

In contrast, Jesus fed the crowds, healed the sick and cast out demons regardless of the spiritual state of those receiving those blessings. He said His people are not to be like Job’s friends:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37–38)

I wonder what those ‘friends’ would have done had they heard God saying those words to them. Or saying that they should “love their enemies” never mind this person who was their friend? Would they stop their tirade against this suffering man and begin doing what the Son of God would have done had He been there?

Then I think of the times I’ve ‘judged’ other Christians in a spirit of condemnation, as if they had to keep my set of ‘rules’ to be acceptable, or as if they were not believers. How easily the sinful flesh can pridefully look down its nose.

God is incredibly kind. I already told the story of an angry man who got a ‘note’ from God right at the height of his wrath. The note said, “You are cherished.” That man was a Christian and with that touch from God, his anger dissolved. God’s grace is blessing his life with increased transformation. Knowing God’s love also increases our love for others.

Application is simple. The next time I think judgmental thoughts about the way a Christian is talking or acting, I need to bite my tongue. Or if I speak, it must be “truth in love” not harsh and critical condemnation. I’m not to be like a friend of Job but like Jesus, a friend of sinners and a lover of all God’s people.

Finger-pointing in front of a mirror

Another spiritual danger is finger-pointing. Jesus warns about doing it: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37–38)

This idea of “You are not supposed to judge” sometimes gets me a bit riled. Those who read these verses are usually protesting the legitimate use of discernment, church discipline, and law courts, but this is not what Jesus is ruling out. Instead, He is saying we must discontinue our tendency to criticize and find fault with others. Some do this easier than others.

In a couple weeks, I’m speaking at a retreat on the topic of spiritual gifts and how God builds into us various motivations or ways of perceiving needs and how to fill them. This is built on the gift list in Romans 12. For example, a teacher is concerned that people have the right information and think in godly ways. A giver is concerned that people have their financial and physical needs met and relies on God as his source to be generous.

These seven gifts belong to every Christian, yet one is usually dominant. Because of that dominant gift or motivation, those people who have it will show certain characteristics. The prophet or perceiver is known to display a very black and white view of everything. It is those who have this gift that are more prone to be critical. They see what is wrong and want to fix it, but finger-pointing does not do it.

Oddly enough, the black and white people usually have a huge sense of first applying truth to themselves, and therefore struggle with a low sense of self-worth. Unless they rely on God for His estimation of their worth, they might point fingers and start condemning others. They seem to feel superior (which is how they act), they actually feel inferior and condemned. Their gift of ‘seeing what is wrong’ is supposed to be motivation to pray, not to point.

So criticism is a spiritual danger, whether it is part of my temperament or giftedness, a way of trying to build myself up, or just a bad habit. It blinds me to my own needs and alienates me from others.

As for the second part of the above passage, yesterday, I was filling a canister with pasta. When it looked like it would overflow, I shook the jar and the pasta settled so every bit fit. In this case, I didn’t want it to run over, but this is what God promises to a generous person. He measures back generously so that whatever He gives to me will fill my life, even run over so I have more than I need.

From this, it is easy to see that a generous spirit is the antidote to criticism. This is not just about physical and financial gifts, but continually seeking the positive well-being of others. Such an attitude with those actions also produces consequences, but they are far more positive than what happens when I am critical. He clearly says that His rewards (or consequences) are in relation to the way I measure.

This also relates to my view of God. He is black and white, but He is also generous. His Word shows me how to be like Him in those areas, not greedy or hoarding, but also able to discern truth without going fuzzy on it.

My strongest spiritual gifts are not nearly as important as obedience to God. Obeying Him is based on loving Him, not on my faculties. I can learn from those who are strong givers; God is the source and I am merely a channel and can give generously based on faith in a heavenly supply.

Actually, the black and white attitude is a God-thing too. In Him, things are either of Christ and the Holy Spirit, or not. Yet with my finite mind, life often seems a lot more complicated. I cannot figure out myself most of the time, never mind others, so what makes me think I can judge and condemn them with any accuracy? To know anything, I must continually check to see what God says about it.

Jesus said if we are going to judge, it must be done righteously and with all the junk removed from our own lives. That means His commands apply to me – first. I cannot pass them on to the next person, but must abandon all finger-pointing and instead keep His mirror in front of my own face. 

Do unto others…

This morning I received a call from a neighbor who is working in another city. Her security company phoned with the news that something triggered the alarm on her patio door. While venturing out in the dark was a little intimidating for me, it felt good to do a favor for a friend. Also, with a foot of fresh snow yesterday, it was easy to see that no one had been anywhere near her home. 

After reading today’s devotional, I wondered if the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is a command for life or another way of saying whatever you dish out will come back to you. 

Modern maxims say the same thing, such as: smile and the world smiles with you. It seems true. I’ve also noticed that when I am a polite and careful driver, so are others. When I am thankful, others are thankful. When I complain, others complain. While none of this is one hundred percent 24/7, it seems to be generally true most of the time.

However, it is important to remember that God looks for unselfish motives. The idea of giving so I can get something back throws this maxim out a window. Think also of the preachers who use it to get gullible people to send them money. This is a repulsive abuse of this important principle, never mind an abuse of the pocketbooks of those who fall for it.

On the other hand, God does bless good things done for others. An Old Testament proverb puts it this way: “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:25). 

The words of Jesus bear out this ‘equal measure’ maxim. He says things like:

Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. (Mark 4:24)

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:37–38)

Another New Testament passage talks about giving in this same ‘equal measure’ manner showing that God is behind the idea that we get back what we give out.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)

All of this has me thinking of the rewards God gives for obedience. Sometimes they are immediate; sometimes they are reserved for eternity. The reward might be like the deed, such as money for money, but it also could be different, such as getting warm from good exercise on a cold morning in trade for giving someone else peace of mind. 

Either way, it is never a bad idea to do good for others.